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Ethiopian, Somali leaders discuss closer cooperation

Xinhua, May 3, 2017 Adjust font size:

Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and visiting Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed met here on Wednesday over closer bilateral cooperation in various fields.

The two leaders discussed issues related to peace and security, economic cooperation and the current drought in the Horn of Africa region, among others.

In a joint press statement, the two leaders committed to fully implementing previously signed agreements to revitalize the already existing mechanisms of cooperation.

They expressed their readiness to create a high-level joint cooperation committee to further the collaboration between the two countries.

Reaffirming that the two countries need to have strong economic cooperation, the two leaders expressed the need to encourage free movement of goods and services between their respective countries for mutual benefit.

They also reaffirmed commitment to bolstering their support to the African Union AMISOM forces, and to take practical measures to avail all necessary resources to develop a well-functioning Somalia National Army that can effectively deal with Al-Shabaab.

They have expressed their concern on the return of piracy in the Indian Ocean and called on the international community to redouble efforts to support Somali National Coast Guard and to increase the capability of the Somali Police Forces to enforce the rule of law and control criminal activities both on shore and off shore.

Expressing their concern on the critical humanitarian crises in the Horn of Africa region, they called on national, regional and international collaborative efforts to effectively and timely respond to the crises.

Speaking to a joint press conference after their meeting, the Ethiopian prime minister said they discussed the fight against extremism and terrorism together.

They also agreed to cooperate on areas like education, economic development, free flow of people, and transport of people and goods and services between the two countries, said the prime minister.

The visiting Somali president said on his part that he had a fruitful discussion with the Ethiopian prime minister, which he said is a new era for the two countries. Endit